Cornerback Josh Mitchell was one of Nebraska’s team leaders in 2014, both emotionally and with his play in the Husker secondary. Mitchell was one of five senior captains and his play helped NU’s defense excel against the pass.

The Corona, Calif., native and his secondary teammates helped NU rank among the nation’s leaders in pass efficiency defense, opponent completion percentage and third-down defense. Just four of 13 opponents completed better than 50 percent of their pass attempts against NU in 2014.

Mitchell started all 13 games and finished the season with 39 tackles, including 33 solo stops. He added a pair of sacks for 14 yards, both coming against Purdue, and he had a 57-yard fumble return for a touchdown against Miami. Mitchell nabbed his only interception of the season in the Holiday Bowl against USC. He also led the team with 13 pass break-ups, pushing his career total to 25 PBU, good for eighth in school history.

Mitchell earned honorable-mention All-Big Ten recognition for his play in 2014. He was also named to the Academic All-Big Ten team for the third straight season. Mitchell earned his degree in communication studies in December.

2014 (Senior)Florida Atlantic: Tied a career high with two of Nebraska’s five pass break-ups on the day. McNeese State: Recorded a pair of tackles and a pass break-up in the 31-24 win. Fresno State: Posted four solo tackles and tied his career high for the second time this season with two pass break-ups. Miami: Returned a fumble 57 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter to give Nebraska a 31-21 lead... was the first fumble return for a TD by a Husker since Austin Cassidy at Minnesota on Oct. 22, 2011... was the longest fumble return by a Husker since Ralph Brown had a 74-yard fumble return for a touchdown at Kansas State in 1998. Illinois: Produced four tackles in his 20th career start. Michigan State: Played in his 40th career game... notched four tackles and broke up a pair of passes for the third time this season. Northwestern: Produced four tackles for the fourth time this season. Rutgers: Produced a season-high five tackles and broke up one pass. Purdue: Had three pass breakups... increased his career pass break-up total to 23 to move into the top 10 on the NU career PBU list... also produced two sacks for 14 yards after entering the game with one career sack. Wisconsin: Tied a season-high with five tackles, all solo stops. Minnesota: Had a pair of tackles in his 45th career game to give him 100 career stops. Iowa: Recorded two tackles and his 12th pass break-up of the season. USC: Closed his career with his third career interception and first of 2014, marking his third career bowl takeaway... also broke up the 25th pass of his NU career... added two solo tackles.

2013 (Junior)Mitchell played in all 13 games and made six starts at cornerback. He finished with 31 total tackles, including 23 solo stops, and added four tackles for loss. He was responsible for a pair of takeaways with an interception and fumble recovery against Georgia in the Gator Bowl. Mitchell was second on the team with six pass breakups.

He had a season-high five tackles against both Wyoming and Southern Miss in the season’s first two games, including a career-high three tackles for loss against the Golden Eagles. He also had a sack on a Cowboy two-point conversion attempt. Mitchell closed non-conference play with four and three tackles, respectively, against UCLA and South Dakota State.

Mitchell had a total of 12 tackles during Big Ten play, including three tackles against Minnesota and Penn State and two each against Michigan and Michigan State. He had breakups against Purdue, Northwestern and Michigan.

He closed the year with a strong effort against Georgia. Mitchell had two tackles and his two takeaways in Georgia territory each resulted in Husker touchdowns in NU’s 24-19 win.

2012 (Sophomore)Mitchell played in 13 games and made eight starts. He finished with 28 tackles, including 20 solo stops, while adding a pair of tackles for loss and a sack. Mitchell had five pass breakups and nabbed his first career interception against Idaho State. Mitchell also had a fumble caused for the Huskers against Arkansas State.

Mitchell made his first career sack in the opener against Southern Miss. He made seven tackles against a high-powered Arkansas State offense and also forced a fumble in the game. Mitchell had his first career interception, a pass breakup and two tackles against Idaho State.

In the Big Ten opener against Wisconsin, Mitchell had a career-high eight tackles, including six solo stops and a tackle for loss. Mitchell had four tackles against Ohio State and tied his career high with two pass breakups against Minnesota.

2011 (Redshirt Freshman)Mitchell played in eight games and started at corner against Washington. He had five tackles, all against Washington, including two solo stops. He added one pass breakup.

2010 (Redshirt)Mitchell redshirted during his first season in the NU program.

Before Nebraska (Eleanor Roosevelt HS)Mitchell had an impressive 2009 campaign, recording 41 tackles and five interceptions from his cornerback position. A versatile performer, Mitchell added a pair of punt returns for touchdowns, helping the Mustangs to an 8-3 record. His play as a senior earned Mitchell first-team All-Big VIII honors.

A four-year starter for Coach Bill Stacy at Eleanor Roosevelt High, Mitchell had 74 tackles and an interception in 2008. He finished his career with 14 total interceptions. Mitchell was ranked among the top 55 cornerback prospects in the country by Rivals and among the top 150 players in California. Mitchell also visited Colorado State and UTEP and had several other offers.

PersonalJosh is the son of Gwenn Church and Mario Mitchell and was born on Jan. 7, 1993. He is majoring in communication studies and was named to the Big 12 Commissioner’s Fall Academic Honor Roll in 2010 and the Nebraska Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll in the spring 2012 and 2013 semesters. He has volunteered time with Uplifting Athletes, Husker Heroes, Husker Hotline, NFL Fuel Up to Play 60 and hospital and school visits.